Method of utilizing a disaster ID system utilizing illuminated displays to communicate with disaster relief personnel

ABSTRACT

Method of implementing a disaster identification system by utilizing personal illuminated displays to visually communicate with search and rescue personnel. The method consists of holding or attaching an illuminated display to people and pets that are located in a disaster stricken area. The illuminated displays are set by the users to certain colors and flash patterns to indicate their location, group make up and condition to search and rescue personnel patrolling the area. The night is now utilized to discover survivor&#39;s locations and conditions, something that is not done today.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide for a new method of identifying people in a disaster stricken area by utilizing illuminated displays. The illuminated displays are used to convey the location and need of assistance (ex. medical condition) of each wearer in the aftermath of a natural disaster such as a tsunami, tornado, flood, hurricane etc. . . .

The invention came about after having developed a patented illuminated display system that was originally designed as an illuminated multicolored, multimode triage indicator. One day while thinking up many different uses for the triage indicator it occurred to me that in every disaster I had seen on television one thing remained constant, the images of the people on rooftops, car tops and trees. I started thinking how hard they were working for one common goal, the goal of being noticed. I then started to imagine how desperate they must feel when the night approaches because they know they are far less likely to be seen or even searched for.

Then the method came to mind, use different colored lights to distinguish between children, women, men and pets. Some of today's battery powered Illuminated displays can last over a week consistently on and close to two weeks when set to a flashing selection, using one battery. Many offer different colors and flash patterns. Some are very durable and weather resistant. Even today's cell phones and computer screens have the capability of having different colored screens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The method of utilizing an illuminated display to locate and identify people or pets in the aftermath of disaster is implemented in the following manner. An alert is issued by Local, State or Federal agency indicating a disaster is approaching or has occurred. For example a hurricane warning, a tsunami warning, a tornado warning, etc. . . . The population found in the area that is affected then starts to prepare for the disasters devastation to arrive. Part of that preparation includes attaching an illuminated display to each member of the family. Children are tagged solid red, women are tagged solid green, men are tagged solid blue and pets are tagged yellow prior to or soon after a disaster has stricken. Once the disaster has passed and the person wearing the illuminated display has survived, they then change their illuminated solid color to a flashing color to indicate they are in need of medical or other type of assistance.

First responders now patrol the designated disaster area from high ground or by air at night to locate and identify children in need of assistance by the flashing red illuminated displays, women in need of assistance by the flashing green illuminated displays, men in need of assistance by the flashing blue illuminated displays and pets by the solid or flashing yellow illuminate displays. This new method now allows for the night and the darkness to be utilized to aid first responders in locating and identifying survivors, non survivors and survivors in need of assistance for up to 2 weeks. Now the 12 hours of the day that are generally dark and not fully utilized are used to gather intelligence as to where people are located, the makeup of each group located and the request for assistance if needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is an isometric view from the top illustrating an illuminated display system for placement on an user according to the present invention, the illuminated display system includes a plurality of light emitters that individually emit a predetermined wavelength band relating to the users identity (child, woman, man, pet) and condition (need of assistance);

FIG. 2 is an orthographic view from the side illustrating one exemplary embodiment of an illuminated display system;

FIG. 3 are orthographic views from the top illustrating one exemplary embodiment of an illuminated display system, in particular, FIG. 3 a is an orthographic view from the front illustrating a display interface of the illuminated display system, and FIG. 3 b is an orthographic view from the top illustrating an illuminated display system having a fastening interface

FIG. 4 is a drawing of a single colored, multimode illuminated device using a rotary switch to select the appropriate mode.

FIG. 5 is a drawing of a single colored, multimode illuminated device using a pushbutton switch to select the appropriate mode.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of a mobile device screen utilizing an application to implement the illuminated display personal disaster identification method by changing the screen color to the appropriate color and mode for the circumstance.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the personal disaster identification method

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1-3, there is shown an illuminated display system 30 for placement on a user according to the present invention. The illuminated display system incorporates four LED's 22, each LED 22 emitting a different wavelength of light, each wavelength of light conveying a different meaning. Illuminating the solid red selection indicates a child. A flashing red selection indicates a child in need of assistance. Illuminating a solid green selection indicates a woman. A flashing green indicates a woman in need of assistance. Illuminating solid blue selection indicates a male. A flashing blue indicates a male in need of assistance. The yellow is an optional selection and in this embodiment of the invention is used to tag a pet. It would be up to the owner to switch the selection to flashing to indicate the pet is in need of medical or other type of assistance.

Referring to FIG. 4 there is shown an illuminated single colored, multimode light for placement on a user according to the present invention. The illuminated single colored, multi-mode light can be activated by rotating a switch 1 to the solid on selection and rotating it further to the flashing selection.

Referring to FIG. 5 there is shown a single colored, multimode light for placement on a user according to the present invention. The illuminated single colored, multi-mode light is activated by pressing a switch 2 to get to the desired mode selection, off, on, flashing, etc. . . .

The illuminated, single colored, multimode light may also contain whistles, mirrors and other signaling methods attached or designed into the illuminated display.

Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown a mobile device utilizing a mobile application to utilize the method in case there is no time to go home and prepare, close to 90% of adults carry mobile devices. The mobile device user selects the application and is given the choice of selecting 1. Child (red), 2. woman (green), 3. man (blue), 4. child in need of assistance (flashing red), 5. woman in need of assistance(flashing green) and 6. man in need of assistance (flashing blue). Once selected the mobile device displays the corresponding illuminated screen color and mode.

Referring to FIG. 7 a method 10 for utilizing a disaster identification system utilizing illuminated displays may be appreciated as follows. You begin with a population 11 that is soon to be or has been struck by a disaster. Disaster alert 12 is issued and the population 11 gets prepared. Part of that preparation includes the tagging of each family member with an illuminated display 13. Children are tagged solid red prior to or soon after the disaster strikes. Women are tagged solid green prior to or soon after the disaster strikes. Men are tagged solid blue prior to or soon after a disaster strikes and pets are tagged yellow. Once the disaster has passed 14 those in need of medical or other type of assistance switch 15 their illuminated displays to a flashing selection. By switching 15 to the flashing selection the user has accomplished two things. First the battery life is now extended and will allow the illuminated displays to illuminate brighter and longer. Second it will allow first responders to distinguish between survivors and survivors in need of medical or other type of assistance thus allowing them to focus search and rescue efforts on the people in most need of assistance (flashing) and at the same time flag or mark where non flashing illuminated displays are located. First responders can now utilize the illuminated displays to gather intelligence and better preplan 16 first light rescue operations thus reducing the time and costs associated with these endeavors, besides increasing the efficiency of the Search and Rescue teams.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A method of implementing a disaster identification system which utilizes illuminated displays, the method comprising of: the issuance of a disaster warning by Local, State or Federal authorities; attaching an illuminated display to a person or pet located within the disaster area; each illuminated display includes a plurality of light emitters, each light emitter providing a different wavelength of light than the other light emitters, each respective wavelength providing information relating to a corresponding status of the user, each desired light emitter is chosen for illumination thereof by a selector from the plurality of light emitters according to the lighting operation sequence wait for the disaster to pass, disaster passes and; survivors switch the illuminated display to the appropriate setting according to the lighting operation sequence; Providing visual status of each disaster victim according to the setting of each illuminated display.
 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the lighting operation sequence consists of identifying children with a red illuminated display, women with a green illuminated display, men with a blue illuminated display.
 3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the operation sequence consists of identifying children in need of assistance with a flashing red illuminated displays, woman in need of assistance with a flashing green illuminated display and men in need of assistance with a flashing blue illuminated display.
 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the operation sequence consists of identifying pets with a yellow illuminated display.
 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the flash rate to identify a survivor is between 30 and 300 pulses per minute.
 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the illuminated display has a lock feature to prevent the illuminated display from being inadvertently switched or turned off.
 7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the illuminated display has a last selection memory to recall and return to the selected color even after power has been lost to the illuminated display system due to the adverse conditions found during a disaster.
 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the illuminated display is water resistant and/or waterproof.
 9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the illuminated display is attached to the person by being held in the hand.
 10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the illuminated display is a smart phone or computer screen.
 11. A method for implementing a disaster identification system which utilizes illuminated displays, the method comprising of: the issuance of a disaster warning by Local, State or Federal authorities; attaching an illuminated display to a person or pet located within the disaster area; each illuminated display includes at least one light emitter, the light emitter provides at least one wavelength of light, each individual wavelength providing information relating to a corresponding status of the user, each desired light emitter is chosen for illumination thereof by a selector wait for the disaster to pass, disaster passes and; survivors switch the illuminated display to the appropriate setting according to the lighting operation sequence; Providing visual status of each disaster victim according to the setting of each illuminated display.
 12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the operation sequence consists of identifying children with a red illuminated display, women with a green illuminated display, men with a blue illuminated display.
 13. The method according to claim 11 wherein the operation sequence consists of identifying a child in need of assistance with a flashing red illuminated display, a woman in need of assistance with a flashing green illuminated display and a man in need of assistance with a flashing blue illuminated display.
 14. The method according to claim 11 wherein the operation sequence consists of identifying pets with a yellow illuminated display.
 15. The method according to claim 11 wherein the flashing rate to identify a survivor is between 30 and 300 pulses per minute.
 16. The method according to claim 11 wherein the illuminated display has a last selection memory to insure the illuminated display will stay on the selection even after losing power due to abuse received during the disaster.
 17. The method according to claim 11 wherein the illuminated display has a lock feature to prevent the illuminated display from changing during the disaster.
 18. The method of identifying children with the illuminated color red and children in need of assistance with the flashing illuminated color red.
 19. The method of identifying women with the illuminated color green and women in need of assistance with the flashing illuminated color green.
 20. The method of identifying men with the illuminated color blue and men in need of assistance with the flashing illuminated color blue. 